Curious Tofurious: Baikal

For some residents of Baikal, -30C is merely a pleasant chill, and heating their homes with water from hot springs is quite normal. But what is it like for a foreigner? Tofurious Crane, an American with Russian roots, is about to undergo a test of body and spirit!

Tofurious begins his journey in Ulan-Ude, the capital of Buryatia. Here, in the main temple of Ivolginsky Datsan, lies the incorrupt body of the 12th Supreme Lama. He entered deep meditation 100 years ago and is still considered alive – his body temperature reaches 36C. In another Datsan, Barguzinsky, people come to ask for health and wellbeing for their families.

Upon reaching Olkhon Island, Tofurious meets a hereditary shamaness. She offers him sacred dairy treats and introduces him to local traditions.

However, the journey to Baikal offers more than just spiritual sites. In the picturesque regions of Irkutsk Region, there are extreme adventures to suit every taste. Tofurius tries snowboarding for the first time and fulfills his childhood dream of racing through the snowy taiga on a dog sled.

What is Baikal drift, and how do you make ice cream right on the ice of the world’s deepest lake? Find out in this episode!

Watch “Curious Tofurious: Baikal” on RTD website and on RT’s live feed. The time of the broadcast is available on RT’s schedule page.